The global demand for natural sweeteners has grown rapidly as consumers look for healthier alternatives to sugar. Among these, steviol glycosides sweetener has become one of the most prominent natural options.
However, many people often confuse steviol glycosides with stevia itself. While the two are closely related, there are clear distinctions between them that are important to understand, especially for manufacturers and food developers.
Understanding Stevia
Stevia refers to the Stevia rebaudiana plant, a member of the sunflower family native to South America. The leaves of this plant contain compounds that produce a natural sweet taste without calories. For centuries, stevia leaves have been used as a natural sweetener in traditional beverages and foods. When the leaves are dried and processed, they yield sweet-tasting molecules known as steviol glycosides.
In other words, stevia is the natural Source plant, while steviol glycosides are the active sweet compounds extracted from the leaves.
What Is Steviol Glycosides Sweetener?
Steviol glycosides sweetener refers to the purified and refined compounds derived from the stevia plant. These glycosides, such as stevioside and rebaudioside A, are responsible for the intense sweetness associated with stevia products.
The extraction and purification process ensures that the sweetener achieves a high level of purity, consistency, and stability suitable for use in food and beverage manufacturing.
Neofoods supplies high-quality steviol glycosides sweetener that meets international safety and quality standards. The product offers excellent thermal stability, making it suitable for baked goods, beverages, dairy products, and nutritional snacks.
It provides a clean, pleasant sweetness with minimal to no detectable bitterness,enabling manufacturers to create healthier formulations without sacrificing taste.
Key Differences Between Stevia and Steviol Glycosides Sweetener
While both originate from the same plant, the main difference lies in their form and purity. Stevia refers to the natural leaf or its crude extract, while steviol glycosides sweetener represents the purified form of those sweet compounds.
Stevia leaves contain a mix of different glycosides, fibers, and plant materials, which can affect flavor purity and solubility. In contrast, steviol glycosides sweetener is refined to achieve a consistent sweetness level often up to 200-300 times sweeter than sugar with no calories. This makes it ideal for large-scale food production, where consistency and flavor clarity are essential.
Applications and Advantages
Neofoods’ steviol glycosides sweetener is widely used in products such as low-calorie beverages, confectionery, yogurts, sauces, and bakery items. It blends well with other ingredients and remains stable under various processing conditions.
In addition, it supports clean-label product development, aligning with global consumer trends toward natural, plant-based As a natural, plant-derived ingredient with a simple extraction process (often described as “water extraction”), steviol glycosides align well with clean-label initiatives.
The product’s purity ensures reduced aftertaste and a smooth sweetness profile, making it a preferred choice for both reformulated and new product development.
Conclusion
In summary, stevia is the plant itself, while steviol glycosides sweetener is the purified, food-grade extract used in commercial production. The latter provides manufacturers with a reliable, natural solution for reducing sugar without compromising flavor or stability.
As a leading supplier of food additives and customized ingredient solutions, Neofoods offers premium-quality steviol glycosides sweetener to meet diverse application needs across the food and beverage industry.
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